Motor vehicle



May 7, 1940. F, C, BEST 2,199,517

lMoToR'vEHIcLE M wdrgaww QAM 2 sheets-sham; -2

Patented ,May 7; '1940 UNITED STATES MOTOR VEHICLE Frank C. Best, Detroit, Mich., assignor .to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March '1,' 193s, serial No. 194,501 11 claims. lol. 18o-si) This invention relates to motor vehicles and is particularly concerned with improvements in propulsion and suspension units for such vehicles. In the well-known Hotchkiss type of drive for motor vehicles, the torque applied to the differential gearing tends to rotate the differential housing y about a transverse axis, and the arrangement is such that such rotation is resisted principally or solely by the vehicle leaf springs, so that minor` variations in the driving torque are smoothed out and vibrational impulses originating in the power unit are largely absorbed, with the result that the vehicle operates more quietly and with a steady ow of power. How- 15 ever, in certain types of suspension systems, for

instance wheel suspensions of the so-called independent type employing coil springs, the suspension springs cannot perform adequately the function of resisting rotation of the differential 20 housing. Y

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle drive in which. the absorption of power nuctuations incident to the Hotchkiss type of drive is realized, butin which resisted by means other than the vehicle suspension springs, so that the wheel suspension characteristics may bel varied over a wide range to aordthe desired riding qualities while the characteristics of the yielding means which resists y axle rotation maybe so selected as to afford the optimum results in power absorption and the dampingof vibrational impulses originating in the power unit.

It is a more specific object of the invention to support the dierential housing ofa motor vehicle for rotation about a transverse axis and to provide spring means acting alone to yieldingly resist such rotation, the vehicle suspension springs o playing no part in the' performance y this function.

V A further object of the invention is the' provision in a motor vehicle'of propulsion means including an engine unit and a gearing unit'dis- 45 posed in contiguous relation at onev endv of the vehicle, the gearing -unit including differential gearing operatively connected to drive the vehicle road wheels and being supported for oscillatory 50 ing so operatively connected that oscillatory movement of the gearing unit does npt alter the velocity with which the .differential gearing is operated despite the close proximityv of the units. In the preferred form of the invention thegear- 55 ing unit includes both the differential 'gearing and rotation of the diierentialhousing is yieldingly movement about a transverse axis, the units -be-fV a selective variable speed gearing, both gearing trains being supported in a unitary housing which is in turn pivoted on the engine unit foroscillatory movement about 'a transverse axis. In a further form of the invention, this unitary hous- 5 ing is pivoted directly on the vvehicle frame while the engine unit is supported so as to enable the latter to rock to a limited extent about an axis extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle, whereby` the reactionr of fluctuating power impulses developed in the motor is llargely absorbed and damped.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in` connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a planview of the rear end of a. motor vehicle chassis illustrating the application of the invention thereto;

Figure I2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional go view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure -3is a. transverse 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a g5 universal joint shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating certain parts in section, corresponding to Figure 1 and illustrating a modified form of the invention;

section on the line Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional 3()` view taken substantially lon the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and -4 1 Figure 'lis a transverse sectional .view taken on the line 1`1 of'Figure 5.

For convenience reference is made t6 the embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specific language. is used. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby modications and alterations of the illustrated l embodiments being contemplatedl such as would occur to one skilled in -the-art. v

The drawings show the invention applied to the rear end of a vehicle, the vehicle frame comprisling the side frame members Il) andk cross frame members II, I2 and I3 extending between and secured thereto. An engine unit is indicated at I5, this unitbeing supported on and preferably secured rigidly to the cross frame and I2. A

Secured' rigidly to the block o f the enginevunit I5 are a pair of `rearwardly directed arms I1,I these arms embracing bosses I8 formed at the sides of a'diiferential housing 2, thi? mange-,55

in describing the invention, 35

intended,y various further o members II I plane transverse to ment being such that the differential housing is thereby journalled in the arms I1 for oscillatory movement about a transverse axis. A transmission gear housing 2| is secured to or formed integrally with the differential housing so that these housings constitute a unitary structure, which may be referred to for convenience as the gear housing. Within the transmission housing 2| is supported a selective variable speed gearing 23, which may be of conventional type affording the various speed ratios required in the ordinary operation of a motor vehicle. The engine unit I5 is connected through a conventional clutch and shafts 26 and 21 with the change speed gearing 23, a universal joint 28 being interposed between the. shafts 26 and 21 to permit the gear housing to oscillate about the aforesaid transverse axis.

Differential gearing 30, supported within the differential gear housing from the countershaft of the change speed gearing 23 and serves to transmit power in the usual manner to the axles 32, universal `ioints 24 allowing limited lateral displacement of the axles being interposed between the diil'erential gearing and the axles to permit the latter to swing in a vertical plane. At its outer end each of these axles carries a road wheel 36,' the mounting. of the road wheels on the axles being conventional.

Pivotally supported on the block of the engine unit as indicated at 38 are laterally extending links, each link being constituted by arms 29 and 40 which converge outwardly and are pivoted at their outer ends on generally horizontal axes to members 4| which are rotatably mounted on and dacent the outer ends of the respective axles g2, the axes of pivotal connection of these links to the engine unit and the members 4| being parallel. Interposed under compression between the arm 40 of each link and the adjacent side frame member Il is a coil spring 44, suitable spring seats being mounted on the arm and side frame member respectively to receive and support the spring.

'Ihe construction and road wheels 36 rise and frame in passing over an irregular road bed, the axles 32 are constrained to swing in a vertical the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by the links 39, 40, the axles partaking of such endwise movement with respect to the differential housing 20 the lack of alignment of the axes of pivotal con-- nection of the links 39, 4l to the engine unit and the axes of the respective universal joints 34. The coil springs 44 yielding resist rising movement of the road wheels. It will be understood that the details of this suspension constitute no part of the instant invention except to the extent that the suspension means is coordinated with and employed structure herein described.

Secured to the engine unit I5 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a member 48 constructed to afford a relatively stationary abutment for coiled compression springs 4l. Interposed between the contiguous ends of the springs 49 and Secured rigidly to the'on housing 2| is an arm il. Y

.. It will be understood that when; torque is transmitted to thegjoad wheels Il through the 20 is driven directly in combination with other gearing hereinbefore described, the gear housing which constitutes the reaction member vof the conventional differential gearing tends to rotate about a transverse axis and within the arms I1, and further tends to rotate in a reverse direction during braking, this tendency of the housing to rotate being resisted by the coil compression springs 69. As hereinbefore pointed out, these springs may be carefully selected and calibrated to afford the desired characteristics enabling them to properly resist such oscillatory movement, to smooth out the torque impulses, and to absorb vibrational disturbances arising in the engine unit. Such selection may be made wholly independently of the characteristics of the suspension springs which support the vehicle, which springs, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated 'in the drawings, cooperate in no way with the springs 49. It is thus possible to ensure that the optimum result possible with the Hotchkiss type of vehicle drive may be realized regardless of the nature of the vehicle suspension means, these advantages being obtainable in a vehicle employing a coil spring independent suspension.

In View of the contiguous relation of the transmission'housing 2| and the engine unit I5, it will be appreciated that during oscillatory movement of the former the angular relation between the two will be altered to a considerable extent. In 'order that this substantial change of the angular relation of-shafts 26 and 21 will not give vrise to acceleration and deceleration of the latter, I propose to construct the universal joint 28 in such manner that the two shafts always rotate in synchronism. For this purpose the joint 28 may be formed as shown in Figure 4 and as described and illustrated more particularly in the patent to Koppel 2,102,850, granted December 21'. 1937.

Thus a member 52, secured to the shaft 26, may be provided with a plurality of arms II disposed at suitableintervals shaft. Each of the arms Il is formed to provide a race I4 of parti-cylindrical shape, the axes of the races on the several arms 53 converging rearwardly. Splined on the shaft 21 movement thereon is a sleeve 56 which is provided with a plurality ot arms 61, conforming in number to the arms 52. each of the arms 51 being formed tov provide a parti-cylindrical race Il, the axes of the races 6l converging forwardly. The arms and 61 are so arranged that each race 6 4 is disposed in contiguous relation to and inv a position facing a race ll, and an anti-friction spherical ball is interposed between/each race of a cooperating pair.

It will also be noted that owing to the forward convergence of the axesof the races 58 and the rearward convergence of the Iaxes of the races 54, the races of a cooperating pair will be so arranged that their axes intersect at an acute angle, the center of the anti-friction ball 6l associated therewith being disposed approximately at the point of intersection of these axes. 'I'hus as described in the Koppel patent hereinbefore referred to, the balls 66 move endwise in the races as the angular relation of the shafts 26 and 21 is varied and the construction is such that the point of connection between the cooperating arms Il 'and 51 thi-ouh the balls 60 is always dis.-v I

posed in a plane which bisects the angle formed by the axes of the shafts 26 and 21. Consequently torque will be transmitted at a constant velocity for endwise through the joint regardless of variation in such angle.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '1 is quite similar to that previously described, and similar reference characters are employed to resignate -the corresponding parts. The essential difference resides in the separate mounting of the engine unit and of the gear housing, which mountings will now be described.

The mountingfcr the engine unit is preferable of such a nature as to permitthe unit to rock about a generally longitudinally directed axis. such as that shown at A--A in Figure 6. Thus the construction illustrated and described in the prior patent to Paton 2,099Q703 granted November 23, 1937, may be employed and has been selected for the purpose of illustration.

As shown in Figures and 6, the forward end of the engine unit I5 is supported on a cross frame member 65, the latter being formed to provide a generally rectangular opening in which is received one or more rubber blocks 68 which .surround and support a boss 61 extending forwardly from and secured to the engine unit. The rear end of the engine unit is supported on a cross frame member 10 which passes beneath the engine unit and engages with brackets 1I secured to the unit at each side thereof. It will be observed that the brackets 1I serve as a support for U-shaped members 12, the latter surrounding cooperating U-kshaped members 13 carried by the cross frame member., Arranged between and surface bonded or otherwise secured to the cooperating U-shaped members." and 13 are U-shaped blocks or cushions 15 of rubber. The arrangement is such that the blocks 16 extend diagonally in a vertical plane transversely of the vehicle, and these blocks therefore cooperate with the rubber blocks 66 at the forward end of the engine unit to so support the latter at three points as to enable the engine unit to rock about the axis A-A and thus cushion to a large extent the torque reactions developed therein. The details of this construction form no essential part of the instant invention and may be modied substantially, the mounting of engine units to permit lateral rocking being a common. expedient.

A cross frame member 18 serves to support the gear housing conslstingof the dierential housing 20 and the transmission housing 2|, the laterally extending bosses I8 formed on the differential housing being journalled in arms 80 secured to the cross frame member. As in the generally at 28, these joints being constructed so as'to ensure synchronous rotation oi the shafts 26 and 21 which extend from the respective units, the universal joints being connected, by a short shaft 83 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Projecting from the rear of the transmission housing 2| is an arm 85, this arm extending between and engaging the contiguous ends of coil springs 86 which are received in seats 81 secured to the cross frame member I3 at the extreme rear of the vehicle. n The function of these springs 86 is similar to the function of the previously described coil springs 49, roolring of the -gear housing about aransverse axis being thereby resisted to the extent necessary to equalize torque impulses and absorb vibrations as in the more conventional form of Hotchkiss drive.

- 'I'he wheel suspension illustrated in the form of the invention shown in Figures 5-7 is identical with that shown in Figures 1-4 inclusive and is of the independent type employing coil springs. Thus in this form of the invention as in that previously described, the coilsprings l86 affordlatter rocks about the aforesaid-transverse axis.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:. n A

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame and road wheels, of means yieldably supporting said frame on said wheels, means including differential gearing for transmitting driving power to said wheels, a housing for said gearing, an engine unit supported rigidly on said frame, means supporting said housing on said engine unit for rotation about a transverse axis, and yielding means separate from said rst named means and acting alone between ,said frame and housing to resist rotation of the latter.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame and road wheels, of means yieldably supporting said frame on said wheels, means including differential gearing for transmitting drivvehicle frame, .of an engine unit mounted onV said frame, a dierential unit including a differential housing pivotally supported on said engine unit for oscillation about a transverse axis, and means acting between said frame and housing for yieldably resisting oscillation of the latter.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of an engine unit mounted on said frame, a differential unit including a differential housing pivotally supported on said engine unit for oscillation about a transverse axis, dinerential gearing in said housing, and means including a constant velocity universal joint drivingly connecting said engine unit` and gearing.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of an engine unit and a 4differential gearing unit supported for relative movement on said frame adjacent one end of the latter, means confining movement of said gearing unit with respect to said frame to rotation about a transverse axis, means mounting said engine unit on said frame for oscillatory movement about a generally longitudinal axis, and means ailording a driving connection between said units, said last named means including a constant velocity universal joint.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of an engine unit and a differential. gearing unit supported for relative movement on said frame adjacent one end of the latter, means conning movement oi' said gearing unit with respect tol said frame to rotation about a transverse axis, means mounting said engine unit on said frame for oscillatory movement about a generally longitudinal axis, and means aiording a driving connection between said units, said last named means incluciiga pair of constant velocity universal joints arrangedln series.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame and road wheels, of means yield-.- ably supporting said frame on said wheels, means including diierential gearing for transmitting driving power to said wheels, a housing for said gearing, means supporting said housing on said frame for free rotation about a ilxed transverse axis which is substantially coincident with the axis of the diilerential gearing, and yielding means separate from the said first `named means and acting-alone between said frame for substantially free rotation about a transverse axis, and yielding means separate from said frame supporting means and also separate from said housing supporting means and acting alone between said frame and housing to resist rotation of the latter, but being so constructed and arranged as to permit the relatively large rotative dlsplacement of the housing about saidaxis under the iniluence of the torque reaction.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the housing is a unitary housing which also contains a selective variable speed gearing as well as the differential gearing.

10. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the yielding means comprises a coil compression spring disposed between a portion of said housing and a part of said frame.

11. The combination set forth in claim 8 in .which the road wheels are independently mount- 1 ed driving wheels, and in which coil springs are provided for yieldably supporting the frame on said wheels.

FRANK C. BEST. 

